Top Story with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Episode Date: June 11, 2025

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, Marines deployed in cities on edge as anti-ice protests escalate across the country. Protests spreading nationwide, crowds broken up with tear gas in Austin, baton-wielding police clashing with demonstrators in San Francisco, stores looted in L.A. as Marines move in and the city braces for a fifth night of potential chaos. The man leading the ice raids, Borders are Tom Homan joins Top Story tonight. Are these protests slowing down his operation? Massive train derailment in Texas, several cars carrying ethanol overturning, emergency crews racing to the scene, while officials there say they've never dealt with anything this big. Bomb threat over a missed flight, how a Spirit Airlines passenger plane, a passenger allegedly called in a bomb threat after not making his flight the charges he's now facing. Emotional homecoming, a hero's welcome in Ukraine after these prisoners of war were finally released.

Are Richard Engels there for the powerful reunions? Hip-hop star robbery, the brazen break-in at the mansion of superstar Macklemore, the dramatic video of the nanny shouting for help after being attacked and bare-sprayed. The rapper's three children sleeping inside, why police say this was no random crime. Katie Perry grabbed on stage by a man who rushed past security, how she reacted and how this man has done something like this before, we'll explain. New warnings about kids and screen time why experts say it's a vicious cycle that's hurting mental health and what parents can do about it.

And the Massachusetts high school student, detained by ICE, breaks his silence, why he says what he says really happened. That exclusive first interview tonight. Top story starts right now. And good evening. We do begin tonight with new unrest erupting overnight in Los Angeles as the city braces for more violence today, possibly. Downtown L.A. seen its fifth consecutive day of protest,

as ICE carries out their raids throughout the city. With the Trump administration, promising Marines are on the way. A new video of this shocking moment caught on camera. A New York Post photographer, look at this, shot in the head by a police officer's rubber bullet. Gah! What's got to dro? You're all right?

Just got shot in the head. The New York Post slowing down the video, and look at this, you can actually see the rubber bullet as it flies through the air, hitting him right in the head. Across the country, anger and outrage boiling over. Police dispersing crowds in Austin with flares in this chaotic scene in San Fran, dozens of protesters clashing with police. And these images from right here in New York City just coming into the newsroom tonight

showing hundreds of people protesting in the streets. In just a moment, our interview with Borders are Tom Homan, who's leading the ice raids. We'll ask him if these protests are slowing down his operations and if it was necessary to call in the National Guard. There's a lot to get to tonight, but we want to start with NBC's Liz Kreutz, who is in Los Angeles for us tonight. Tonight, anti-immigration enforcement protests spreading nationwide. Overnight in Austin, tear gas used to break up crowds. And in San Francisco, arrest from clashes with police.

And for the fifth day in a row, protesters taking to the streets of downtown Los Angeles, upset over immigration enforcement operations underway here. There is a way to go about things, but this isn't one to just tear families apart. It's not right to do that. 700 Marines soon to arrive to the city. Tonight, California Governor Gavin Newsom asking a court to block soldiers from enforcing immigration laws, posting the federal government is turning the military against American citizens. President Trump saying if he did not deploy them and the National Guard, things would be much worse. If we didn't do it, there wouldn't be a Los Angeles.

What you're witnessing in California is a full blow. assault on peace, on public order, and a national sovereignty carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags. President Trump noting the LAPD chief said Sunday the department was overwhelmed. But tonight, Chief Jim McDonald telling us it's unclear what the Marines will do. Have you been given any communication from the federal government about Marines coming here to the city? You know, I've heard like everybody else says, mostly through the media.

Tonight, NBC News learning that the Marines could be used. to provide security and transportation to ICE agents during their operations to arrest undocumented immigrants. A Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Heggzeth, pressed by Democrats about the cost of the National Guard deployment. Could the Secretary please address the budget? Thank you. You asked about the situation in Los Angeles, and we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations. The Pentagon revealing it will cost roughly $134 million. All after overnight, new violent clashes between protesters and police. A car lit on fire. Some businesses looted, including this Apple store in downtown L.A. So far, more than 100 arrests have been made, and the FBI now offering a $50,000 award

for this protester who allegedly pelted ICE agents' vehicles with rocks over the weekend. This video showing a New York Post photographer getting hit in the face by a rubber bullet from police as protesters took over a major highway Sunday. While DHS confirming ICE agents carried out more enforcement operations Monday, targeting undocumented gang members, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, demanding all ice raids stop. The real solution of all of this is for the administration to stop the raids. Maria Fabila owns the black tie tuxedo just blocks from the protest. She's an immigrant herself, but does not support the protesters, saying she's been forced to temporarily close her store. What is your message to the protesters right now? I'm very skirt in

No, no good. No. It's very, very bad for the economy, for the state. California. You're scared. Yeah, very, very scared. Liz joins us tonight live from Los Angeles. Once again, Liz, talk to our viewers where you are. I think you're on the 101, a major interstate there, freeway in Los Angeles. We can see, I think it's police just behind you. Yeah, Tom, so protesters that were outside the federal building, they just within the past 20 minutes, made their way. here towards the major interstate Highway 101. You can see it is closed down right now. This is rush hour. Nobody here. We see that police have stopped all of the cars, and you can see

this line of police. This is the line of police that blocked protesters from actually getting onto the highway. We're able so far to successfully do that, because just minutes ago, there were a ton of protesters right here, and they're now all heading this way. Really, this is a bit of an escalation that we're seeing, Tom. We do know from police that they said that they made many more arrests overnight, and they said that they are combing through video right now, and anybody seemed to be breaking the law, will be held accountable. We're going to continue to follow these protesters, Tom. I just will say that we have not seen any Marines on the streets right now. All of the interactions with the protesters and law enforcement has been

Los Angeles local authorities. We have seen the National Guard, but they have mostly just at the perimeter of the federal buildings. Liz, you know, it's hard to see, and I know there's things going on all around you. Can you explain to our viewers? It doesn't look like there's a lot of protesters there. Obviously, a lot of media, and you have the police shutting down the freeway, but for the 101 to be closed, which is a major artery in a city that already has horrific traffic, I mean, this is just a precaution? Yeah. Well, actually, we heard on police scanner, where we were before with the police, they were saying, you know, protesters getting onto the highway. So these officers quickly were on standby to deploy here, and you can see more police

cars here, more of these police in riot gear. This is on the 101 getting out now, trying to create a line to make sure protesters don't make it onto the freeway. There was a larger crowd of protesters when we first got to this location. They're kind of scattered at this point, so it's a little bit unclear where they're all going. But we do know there's still that confrontation happening at the federal building as well right now. And I think we're waiting to see what happens here as these police officers, LAPD officers who have batons. They look like they are prepared to fire non-lethal rounds, rubber bullets. We had heard flashbangs, kind of create a skirmish line here right on the highway.

Southbound 101 in L.A. right now. Shut down. Northbound is still moving, but moving slowly right now. This is all happening right now, Tom. We'll see how we did it unfold. You know, I am curious, we have KNBC, our partners at KNBC, our powerhouse station there in Los Angeles, overhead, showing those police cars, showing the 101 shut down. What is this doing to the city of Los Angeles? Because, again, like I said, with traffic as bad as it is, I cannot imagine a whole half of that highway being shut down.

Yeah, you know, Tom, the last time the highway was shut down during these protests was Sunday afternoon, not as busy of a time as Tuesday around rush hour right now. So this is going to have a big impact on the city. Lots of people are going to notice it. And that's somewhat of a difference, actually, because up until now, this is a huge city. As you know, L.A., you could be in Santa Monica, you could be in the valley,

and you wouldn't notice the impact of these rallies. They have mostly been isolated to this downtown area by City Hall, by the federal buildings. There's been roadblocks here. Other parts of the city, you wouldn't notice. I think blocking a freeway at this time of day is going to have an impact on a lot of people. Liz Croyd's great reporting.

all week. We appreciate having you tonight. Stand by in case anything breaks out. We will come back to you live and stay safe. Despite the protests across the country, ice raids are pressing forward. Earlier I spoke to President Trump's borders are Tom Holman, who's overseen those raids. Mr. Holman, describe the state of play right now in Los Angeles. Right now, it's calmed down, but last night was bad. It seems that the activity really picks up at nighttime, and, you know, I think it's, I think God, President Trump did deploy the National Guard to help protect the buildings and help protect our officers, but it's chaos. I mean, a lot of protesters are peaceful. Some of the protests are not. Some of the protesters

quickly become criminals. When they burn down cars, they damage government property, and they attack our law enforcement, they're criminals. And I just wish, you know, we all support the First Amendment, they can certainly protest and shout and cover their signs about they don't like what ICE does. But to cross that line on committing criminal activity, it's just, it's beyond the pale and it needs to stop. And that's why President Trump sent the National Guard there to help bring order and at least protect property and protect life. As you know, Mr. Holman, Governor Newsom has sued the Trump administration asking a federal court to rule on the National Guard and the Marines being used, essentially saying they should

only be used to protect federal property. If a judge rules in California's favor, what will you say to that? I think it's wrong. I think President Trump's doing the right thing. Governor Newsom is late to the game. I mean, I was on the ground. I was there since last Wednesday. I was there to kick off a major operation. And Friday night, we got thousands of people, a thousand people showing the federal billing. We've had our agents were there, and people we arrested earlier that day were there and put them at great risk. And did damage. to the building. We had several officers heard. He took several days for him to get there. President Trump didn't hesitate. Have these protests stopped or slowed any single ice raid?

And if they've even stopped a single one, have they been successful? No, they're making them more difficult. No, we're going ahead. We're making record numbers of rest every day. And like I say in Los Angeles, even though you got these protests and some of these control rights. I want to make sure I understood you there. They are making, they are making these ice rates more difficult, the demonstrators? No, they're making them more dangerous. But they make them more dangerous. Our officers with the backing of other federal agencies,

it's just not ice out there anymore. We got DEA, FBI, we got U.S. Marshals, we got ATF. President Trump on the Hall of Government to do this operation. But I want to make it clear. We've been running the ice operation in Los Angeles every single day during this protest,

and we're arresting a lot of back. people in that city and we're going to continue to doing it. They're not going to stop us, they're not going to slow us down. Yeah, I want to put up a tweet for you. I'm going to send it over to you there in that studio. This is what Gavin Newsom put on X, right? He put the photos you see there of Marines sleeping on top of each other. This is what he wrote in that post. You sent your troops here without fuel, food, water, or a place to sleep. Here they are being forced to sleep on the floor, piled on top of one another. What do you say to that, Mr. Holman? Let's see you'll take a few moments.

Go downtown LA, the damage has been done by these radical protesters. I mean, President Trump's saving his city. President Trump's doing what he should have done. Gavin Newsom could have responded right away and try to quell this disturbance down there, but he supports sanctuary cities. He supports releasing criminal aliens to the streets every day.

President Trump has put on truth social. If they spit, we will hit. You've been in law enforcement for decades. Is that the right strategy, when things are so tense? ICE officers would defend themselves. Like I just mentioned, someone through a Molotov cocktail and an officer. Now, in my situation, doing this for four decades, if that would have come close and the officer

would have sustained, you know, if that fuel would have dumped on and that Molotov cocktail would have lit that officer up, then he's responsible. I mean, he's all the authority in the world to respond with deadly force. Mr. Holman, I understand that. So ICE officers are going to defend himself president. A Molotov cocktail. I get that. And nobody wants to be spit on either. I want to make sure you don't think that we're condoning that either. But it's, I guess it's sort of the temperature check, right? When the

president puts out something like that, doesn't it make things hotter? Look, I think the men and women of ICE and the National Guard are well-trained. You've seen the videos. These officers have been hurt. More officers have been hurt than protests have been hurt. So these people are well-trained. They know use of force, the paradigm of use of force. know when they can take action when they can't. They've had hundreds and hundreds of hours of training. I trust the men and women law enforcement to use the proper use of force when needed. So there's been reports that Stephen Miller has demanded 3,000 people should be deported a day, rounded up and deported a day, and that if not, it's going to lead to firings. Is that something

you're going to be able to get to a goal you'll be able to reach? And is that why you're now targeting day laborers as well? Look, I agree with Stephen Miller that we need an increase in ice operations. I've said from day one, I've been asked a thousand times, am I happy with the numbers? I'm happy we have the most secure border in history of this nation right now, the most secure border ever. I'm happy with that. I'm happy that ICE arrests have tripled the number of Joe Biden. But because I just said, four years of open border, you know, millions of illegal animals released in this country, many of their public safety threats, we have a big job to do.

So, yeah, we don't want ICE arrests a thousand a day? That's good, but we should be arresting more. Because right now, as you and I are speaking, we've got over 600,000 illegal aliens that we know of. We have criminal convictions walking the streets to this country. We've got to arrest them quicker. We've got to make this country safer, quicker. Every illegal alien criminal we arrest makes it. Neighborhood's much safer, again, which is why we need this budget pass to give ICE resources they need to take this operation, make it more efficient, and increase the numbers of people, criminal threats, national security threats,

that are going to be removed from this country. We need a budget to do that, and hope they do it, and I hope they do it fast. Mr. Holman, anything happened over the last few days in Los Angeles that you regret or you wish you would have done differently? No. All right, we'll leave it there, Mr. Holman. We appreciate your time and your answers, and thanks for talking to us for such a long period of time. Thank you, sir.

That a bomb threat called in about a Spirit Airlines flight from Detroit to Los Angeles. The FBI says the man who called it in was supposed to be on that flight but missed it. Here's Tom Costello. It happened at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We have a situation, so we unfortunately are going to have to debord this aircraft, and everybody's going to have to be re-scrained. Spirit Airlines flight 2145 to Los Angeles on Thursday, stopped and held on the runway after our caller phoned in a bomb threat. You can go away with me, which I greatly appreciate you if you could. I will get this done as quick as I can for you. Everyone on board removed from the plane and screened on the runway by TSA dogs. But within just a few hours, the FBI said they had their suspect.

23-year-old John Charles Robinson, who allegedly admitted to calling in the threat after arriving too late for the flight and telling the Spirit Airlines rep on the phone, there's going to be someone that's going to try to blow up that flight, 2145. When Robinson then showed up for the flight that he'd been rebooked on, he was arrested, now charged with use of a cell phone to threaten maliciously convey a bomb threat and phoning in false information. In a statement, the U.S. attorney in Detroit says, No American wants to hear the words bomb and airplane in the same sentence. Making this kind of threat undermines our collective sense of security and waste valuable law enforcement resources. Tom Costello joins us now. So, Tom, as you mentioned, that passenger has been charged.

What's next for him? Yeah. He's out right now on a $10,000 bond. He has a court appearance coming up on June 27th. We reached out to his public defender, did not hear back. And by the way, Spirit says all of the passengers who were on that flight did eventually make their way to Los Angeles, but several hours delayed. Tom. Tom, I got to tell you, cover a lot of these stories.

It has to be somewhat incredible how they caught up to him, right? Sort of the police work, if you will, to catch this guy. I would just say, informationally, he may not have been the smartest suspect because he used the cell phone. He used the cell phone that he made the reservation on to then call in the bomb threat. So it was pretty quick to identify the phone, according to the local authorities. Two steps, and they got them. All right, Tom Costello, we thank you for covering that one. Overseas now, the emotional reunions of Russia and Ukraine, exchanging prisoners with desperate families,

finally seen their loved ones again. And NBC's Richard Engel is in Ukraine with that video and the story. Today, dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were freed in an exchange with Russia. They were greeted to a hero's welcome at a hospital north of Kyiv. But they looked like the living dead, gaunt, heads shaven, their bodies broken, and some said beaten. Alexander Kulkoff told me he was a prisoner for over three years and that the Russians broke his ribs.

If nothing was already broken, they would break it, he said. Hundreds of families of missing Ukrainians tried to show the POWs photographs, hoping one of them might have seen their lost father, son or brother. Olga Serhichuk had no luck. I am happy for those who have been returned, but I am so sorry my husband is not among them, she said. But just a few feet away, Tanya Shestak couldn't contain her joy. A prisoner saw her father two days ago and said he's doing well. This is the first information. First time you learned that your father is still alive.

How are you doing? Oh, very, very, very. Very exciting. I can feel you're squeezing my arm. Wow. The return of the Ukrainian POWs exposed the cost of this war that we don't often see. We think about the dead and the injured, but there are thousands of families on both sides of the conflict who have no idea if their relatives are alive, dead, prisoners somewhere. I met a young woman today who's been looking for her fiancé for the past three years. But after today, there's renewed hope that even with peace talk stalled, there'll be more prisoner exchanges. Tom? Okay, Richard Engleforis, back here at home to New York City, a former girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs, back on the stand in his

sex trafficking and racketeering trial, testifying under the pseudonym Jane to protect her identity. This time she's answering questions from the defense. NBC's Chloe Malas was inside the courthouse and joins us live now. So, Chloe, what did we learn today during the cross-examination of Jane? Hey there, Tom, we learned a whole lot. We learned during Jane's testimony that at times she hired escorts on her own accord without Combs telling her to. She decided which drugs to take, and at times she would dismiss certain escorts and send them home because she wasn't attracted to them.

The importance of that coming out during her cross-examination, Tom, really goes to the element of free will. Was she forced to take part in these hotel nights? Because if she was, and the prosecutors can prove that, it goes through to sex trafficking charges. We also learned a little bit about his routine after these freak-offs, which are also called hotel nights, that he actually enjoyed watching his favorite show afterwards,

which happened to be Dateline. Okay, didn't know that was going there. Chloe, we appreciate your reporting. Thank you for covering that for us. We're back in 60 seconds with the violent break-in at Superstar Rappers' home. The nanny caught on camera calling out for help. His children still inside was he targeted? Plus, the top story exclusive, the high school student detained by ice for days,

sparking protest and school walkouts. He'll join us live as he still faces possible deportation. And the slowing march of the penguins, the new warning about the population of these beloved creatures. We'll explain. Stay with us. We are back down with a violent break-in at the home of rap superstar Macklemore. While his three children and nanny were inside, ring video shows the moment she goes to a neighbor's house for help after she was thrown to the ground and even maced by the burglars.

NBC's Maggie Vespa has the latest. Help, please. New tonight, chilling home surveillance video of a traumatized nanny pleading for. help. Help, please. Seattle police saying she escaped a violent break-in at the home of hip-hop superstar McElmore, where she was caring for his three children. A police report saying just after midnight Saturday, two men dressed in black face masks,

gloves, and apparent tactical vests entered the gated multi-million dollar home through the Nanny Believes an unlocked patio door, spraying her with bare mace and swearing at her, demanding jewels. She told police the robbers took watches. jewelry and shoes and threw her on the ground, putting a boot on her ankle, then her neck, later pinning her against a wall, holding her mouth shut. She fought back, the report says, biting a robber's hand before running to neighbors' homes. Police say the men escaped. The children were found safe. Maclemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, was in the midst of

a European tour, scheduled to perform in Germany the next day. He has not responded to NBC News's request for comment. Former Seattle Police Chief and NBC News law enforcement analyst Carmen Best believes it was planned in advance. They were intentional about how they were going to intimidate the victim, take her down. They know that they're of likely to be valuables in the home. Help, please. Tonight, an investigation ongoing and a famous family traumatized. Maggie Vespa joins us tonight. Maggie, this feels very familiar, especially when you talk about pro athletes. We've covered the growing trends of robbers targeting the homes. of those athletes and celebrities while they're away at games run tour.

Is there a possible connection with this one? Our law enforcement analyst thinks it's definitely possible, Tom, especially given how, and she talked about that a little bit, how confidently and quickly and frankly brazenly they moved through the home, knowing there would be valuables and jewels that they talked about there. And she said, even if these guys have never pulled off a job like this before, she believes they definitely targeted McElmore's home because he was famously away. He was overseas in Europe performing.

But one particular note, one last note, this community in particular is so hit hard by this because this break-in happened just days after a Seattle man was charged with burglarizing the homes of four local athletes, including Richard Sherman, who used to play for the Seattle Seahawks. So this community, the Seattle area in particular, is so painfully familiar with these kinds of home invasions. Tom. Maggie, Vest before us. Maggie, thank you for that. When Top Story returns, a massive train direction. Railment. Look at this. It rocks a small town in Texas. The cars filled with ethanol overturning the investigation now into what caused this disaster. And shocked on stage, pop star Katie Perry, rushed by a fan while touring in Australia. Turns out that guy right there, that fan is a repeat offender. That story is next. But first, top stories moment. It could be the Major League Catch of the Year, maybe best catch ever, when the A's rookie outfielder Denzel Clark

robbed the Angels of a home run last night. Take a look. Denzel Clark on the move back after he stepped up. Oh, my God! He makes another catch! Oh my God! Back to back weeks where he wins the electric play of the week and he's already on the leaderboard for this week. You go ahead and book it. I've heard the list, I've seen the list of the greatest catches you're ever going to see in your life.

If you don't have room for this one on your list, we're watching two different sports. Look at that, balancing himself full sprint goes airborne. on top of the wall and making that big catch. That is some serious reach. And get this, Clark has won the MLB electric play of the week already. Two weeks in a row for two other wild catches. And this one may score him a third. And oh, yeah, he's a rookie.

Stay with us. We're back in just a moment. We're back now with Top Stories News Feed, starting with a train derailment in a town just outside of Dallas, Texas. this aerial video. It shows more than a dozen train cars containing ethanol overturned in Waxahatchy. According to officials, a total of 16 cars jumped the tracks, and so far no leaks have been detected. The city manager says no injuries have been reported and there is no immediate danger to the public, but he had never seen anything of this magnitude. Right now, 27 states are trying to stop the sale of genetic testing company 23 and Me.

A recently filed lawsuit argues that customers should have to consent to their personal data being sold. It comes as a biotech company seeks court approval to purchase that company. 23 and Me, which provided saliva-based DNA testing kits, went public in 2021, but filed for bankruptcy protection in March. And an update to a story we brought you last week, one of two instruments stolen from the rock band Heart

has been recovered. Police say the Fender Telecaster. Guitar was returned after investigators used the surveillance footage to track down a woman who bought the guitar from the thief. They say she voluntarily gave it up. Police had already charged 57-year-old Garfield Bennett with that theft. Stolen mandolin you see here, still missing. And a consumer alert, a nationwide recall issued for popular nasal and baby teething swabs

over possible fungal contamination. That's not good. The voluntary recall includes Zycam, cold remedy, nasal swabs, zycam nasal, all clear swabs, and aura gel baby teething swabs. The company says so far, no serious adverse events have been reported. Consumers should stop using the recalled items and are eligible for a full refund. Okay, in Washington tonight, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing fierce backlash after removing every single member of the CDC's

Vaccine Advisory Committee. That committee known as a ACIP is made up of top doctors and public health experts who guide the CDC on how vaccines should be used and help-shake recommendations for health care providers. Kennedy writing in the Wall Street Journal, a clean sweep is needed to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.

I want to bring in Tom Frieden. He's the president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, and you may recognize him because he's a former CDC director. Dr. Frieden's so great to have you here. You heard there from the new CDC director, and a health and human service secretary, I should say. What do you say to that? Well, what we see from Secretary Kennedy

is a pattern of untruths, misinformation, and fringe beliefs. And unfortunately, this is now what might guide federal policy, not just on who's recommended to get different. different vaccines, but whether insurers and the vaccines for children program will pay for those vaccines. I want to get to the science of it in just a second and what this board actually does, but when he brings this up, do you think he has a point whatsoever in saying there's a portion of the American public, maybe a large portion, that has lost trust in what the CDC puts out because everything that we've learned post-pandemic? And again, it was a novel virus. I always like to remind

viewers of that, so a lot of us were learning in real time. But does he have a point when he says that? problems with trust. And we see this actually in every vaccine that's ever been since vaccines were first invented. One thing that you need to do to rebuild trust is to be consistent, to follow the facts, to say the truth. And that's not what we're getting from Secretary Kennedy. We're getting, for example, the claim that there's extensive conflict of interest in this committee. This committee is actually the global model of effective decision-making on vaccines. Now, Secretary Kennedy may not believe that or may not agree with their decisions, but everything they do is fact-based, everything is transparent, on the internet, everything live-streamed, and of the current 17 members,

one has a potential conflict of interest, that individual, a very distinguished scientist, pediatric infectious disease specialist who did research on vaccine, so she recused herself from any of those decisions. What's going to happen now, do you think, right? Is there a danger now that there's a vacancy, and they're going to have to fill these spots? There's a big danger. They want to oppose. people who knows who will lay a point. We'll have to see. But the danger is that pediatricians, all doctors, all patients won't have fact-based, accurate, transparent information on what the

science really shows on whether vaccines protect them. People are going to be watching this segment, right? They're going to be listening to Secretary Kennedy. They may be confused out there. What's the best advice? Is it just listen to your doctor? Absolutely. And your doctor should listen to groups like the American Academy of Pediatricians and different groups that are medical groups that are not being appointed by a politician who has, frankly, fringe beliefs on vaccines. But, I mean, getting the advice from your doctor is the first place you should start, and then you go from there. Absolutely. And if you want a valid place for vaccine information, we're going to have to

monitor what happens, because until today, most doctors would have gone to the CDC website. What happens now, do you think, with the CDC and the FDA, with these, major changes happening? What are the long-term effects, do you think? I'm really worried. I'm worried that doctors won't have valid, transparent information to refer to. I'm worried that insurers and the vaccines for children program, which provides half of all the childhood vaccines in this country, may not cover vaccines so people may have to pay for them or lose access. And I'm worried about rebuilding that very trust that Secretary Kennedy says he wants to rebuild. Talk to me about what happens in, say, a pediatric practice, right? Because you

have doctors, and we've been covering this on a segment we call cost of denial now about the insurance industry and health care in America, doctors are slammed. They're seeing more patients than they ever have before. They're working more than they ever have before. And so a vaccine comes out. And is it, is the onus on them to do the research? Or is the shorthand to sort of look up, okay, what does the academy say? What is the CDC say? Or should they be looking up these vaccines individually? For more than 60 years, people, pediatricians and almost all doctors in the U.S. have relied on a vaccine schedule. It's a very simple schedule that outlines who should get which vaccines, how many times, and when.

That schedule now we may not be able to trust. That's a real concern. Why? Because we don't know who this secretary, who has a history of falsehoods about vaccines, is going to appoint to the most important committee that recommends what should be on that schedule. Dr. Friedan, we've run out of time here, but we thank you for having here and explaining all that. We do appreciate it. Okay, we want to turn back now to our top story of the Trump administration's immigration raids from coast to coast. Tonight we're speaking with one teenager impacted personally by the crackdown.

Marcello Gomez to Silva is 18 years old, attending high school in Massachusetts. He came to this country on a visitor's visa at just seven years old, later getting a student visa. He was detained on May 31st on the weight of volleyball. The agents, it turns out, were looking for his father, but took him in when they realized. his visa had expired. His detainment triggering outrage in his community. His high school classmates, you see here, staging a walkout and his teammates on the school's volleyball team playing a match in his honor. Then after five days in detention to Silva, granted bail by a judge and released these images capturing his emotional reunion with his family and friends. But tonight

his battle of state in America, the place he says, is his home, is not over? Joining us tonight exclusively on Top Story is Marcello Gomez de Silva. Marcella, we thank you for joining us tonight. Do you have any idea if you're going to stay in the United States? As of right now, I think I will. I mean, it's very likely me and my lawyers have been working on this. It's definitely a battle, but we have been taking steps on to do these other things. Has that sort of hit you yet? And I know you just got out, but has that sort of hit you that this may no longer be your home?

Yeah, it's definitely something I thought about there. I was always scared to go back, scared to be deported. It's definitely something I don't want to be. But, yeah. When you were arrested on May 31st, I know you were on your way to volleyball practice. Talk to me about what happened when those ICE agents approached you. I just pulled into my friend's driver ready to pick her up, and he automatically stopped right behind my car. He knocked on my window, and he said, get out of the car.

And obviously, I was in shock. I didn't know what was going on. I got out. He asked me for my license. I gave it to him about 15 minutes after he came back and put me in handcuffs and he said, do you know why you're under arrest? I said, no, I don't. And he said, because you're illegal, you're an immigrant. And he put me in the car. What did they explain to you after that and what was going through your head when he told you that? I was in complete shock. I didn't cry. I wasn't, I wasn't angry or anything. I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't understand what I did wrong. But no, they didn't

explained to me what was going on. They didn't tell me what was happening. I was clueless. Were you even aware of your immigration status and that you may not be up to speed on everything that you needed to know? No, it's not something that I really paid attention to because I'm a high school student. I didn't think it was something very important. I thought I was pretty caught up on everything because I have a school ID and things like that. I just thought that if I stayed abided by the law, drove correctly and did right things, and I'd be just fine. ICE has said that you were not the intended target.

Your father was in a state that I want to put this up for our viewers here. The Department of Homeland Security called him a, quote, known public safety threat, writing in part on X about him. Local authorities notice ICE that this illegal alien has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas endangering Massachusetts residents. What do you or your family say to that? Is that true about your father?

My family disagrees. I completely disagree. It is completely untrue. When they pulled me over, they never asked me about my father. They said nothing about my father. They didn't ask me about my family. They knew my name. They knew I was 18. They knew I was going to school. First of all, it's completely impossible to drive 100 miles an hour in a residential area. They could have at least thought a little bit harder to make up a lie. But my dad is the type that I tell him to drive a little faster because he drives. so slow and respectfully. He's a really good guy. I love my dad, and I completely disagree with what they said. Is your father now in hiding because of this? Yeah, my dad has to stay home for the moment, but me and my lawyers are taking steps at that. Do you feel that you are an American, if people were to ask you, are you American, what would you tell them? an American environment, but truly I am Brazilian. I was born there. That's my blood. But, yeah, I definitely grew up in an American environment, and I would say I'm half. I'm both. You're both. But you want to stay in America? Do you want to become an American citizen?

Yeah. Yeah, I definitely want to become an American citizen. I want to stay in America for sure. Yeah, this is my community. I love this country. I know you're a teenager, and I know you were probably I'm thinking about a lot of other things besides this right now. But if people were to come to you and say, listen, at the end of the day, if they look at your paperwork, right, and you are undocumented, you overstayed your visa, you need to be deported. What would you say to those people? That actually was said to me in the detention center. She didn't say I need to be deported, but she said I could possibly be deported because of it. And I looked at her and I told her, ma'am, I was seven years old when that happened, when my visa.

What could I possibly have done at that moment? And she looked at me and she herself got a little sad and she understood, but she didn't really care. All right, Marcella De Silva, we thank you for coming on top story tonight and sharing your story. We will stay on top of it. Oh, yeah, yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. We're going to turn out of some other news this time out of Nashville involving a rising country music star,

24-year-old Connor Smith allegedly hitting and killing an elderly woman with his pickup truck. as she was walking in a marked intersection. Jesse Kirsch has that story for us tonight. Tonight, rising country star Connor Smith identified as the man behind the wheel of a pickup truck that allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Nashville. Police say preliminary findings indicate that Sunday evening Smith failed to yield before striking 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins, who it appears was inside a marked crosswalk. Police also making clear Smith did not show any signs.

of impairment, and investigators say no charges have been filed against the 24-year-old Nashville native. Smith rose to prominence in 2021 when his song, I Hate Alabama, went viral on TikTok. In 2024, he released his debut studio album, Smoky Mountains, and had his music featured in the soundtrack for the summer blockbuster Twisters. In response to Dobbins' death, an attorney for Smith telling NBC News, news, he said, he's In response to Dobbins' death, an attorney for Smith telling NBC news in part, his heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

Dot is who you'd want as a neighbor. She embodies what makes Nashville so special. Jacob Coopin, a Nashville council member who knew Dobbins, remembering the impact she had on the people around her. She worked in a number of community programs. She's someone that the world deserves to know. It's a heartbreaking situation. Tonight, Dobbins neighbor, Gina Brown, telling us the crosswalk where Dobbins was struck has become increasingly busier with traffic, with progress to be made when it comes to safety.

Is that an area that you're worried about when you're walking through there? 100%. All of this was avoidable. Losing someone's life should not be, okay, now's the time. And better signaling, better notification, better signage can be put into place. Council member Coopin telling us there is still work to be done. We've got some great teams working on these improvements. But, you know, of course, this was too late for Dot, and we've got to work expeditiously, so no one else meets this same fate. Jesse Curse joins us tonight from Miami.

So Jesse Connorsmith is scheduled to perform while this investigation is ongoing. Yeah, and he had actually just played Tom the day before this incident allegedly unfolded at CMA Fest. And according to his website, he has multiple shows coming up over the months ahead, including his most recent upcoming concert date, which is this upcoming Saturday in Fort Myers, Florida. But at this point, it's unclear if those shows will be moving forward. Tom. Jesse Kirsch for us tonight. Up next on Top Story, superstar Katie Perry rushed on stage by a fan, and we're learning he's a serial concert crasher. Her reaction and the concerns it's raising about concert security.

Psychologists sounding the alarm on screens and kids, a new study revealing how too much scrolling may be causing emotional harm to children. That's next. We are back now with Top Stories News Feed, starting with a train derailment in a town just outside of Dallas, Texas. Look at this aerial video. It shows more than a dozen train cars containing ethanol overturned in Waxahatchy. According to officials, a total of 16 cars, jump the tracks, and so far no leaks have been detected. The city manager says no injuries have been reported and there is no immediate danger to the public, but he had never seen anything of this magnitude. Right now, 27 states are trying to stop the sale of genetic testing

company 23 and Me. A recently filed lawsuit argues that customers should have to consent to their personal data being sold. It comes as a biotech company seeks court approval to purchase that company, 23 and Me, which provided saliva-based DNA testing kits, went public in 2021, but filed for bankruptcy protection in March. And an update to a story we brought you last week, one of two instruments stolen from the rock band Heart has been recovered. Police say the Fender Telecaster. Guitar was returned after investigators used the surveillance footage to track down a woman who bought the guitar from the thief. They say she voluntarily gave it up. Police had already charged 57-year-old Garfield Bennett with that theft.

Stolen mandolin you see here, still missing. And a consumer alert, a nationwide recall issued for popular nasal and baby teething swaps over possible fungal contamination. That's not good. The voluntary recall includes Zycam, cold remedy, nasal swabs, zycam nasal, all clear swabs, and aura gel baby teething swabs. The company says so far, no serious adverse events have been reported. Consumers should stop using the recalled items and are eligible for a full refund. Okay, in Washington tonight, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing fierce backlash after removing every single member of the CDC's Vaccine Advisory Committee. That committee known as a ACIP is made up of top doctors and public health experts who guide the CDC on how vaccines should be used and help shape recommendations for health care providers.

Kennedy writing in the Wall Street Journal, a clean sweep is needed to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science. I want to bring in Tom Frieden. He's the president of C.E. resolved to save lives, and you may recognize him because he's a former CDC director. Dr. Frieden's so great to have you here. You heard there from the new CDC director and a health and human service secretary, I should say. What do you say to that? Well, what we see from Secretary Kennedy is a pattern of untruths, misinformation, and fringe beliefs. And unfortunately, this is now what might guide federal policy, not just on who's recommended to get different vaccines, but whether insurers and the vaccines for children program will pay for those

vaccines. I want to get to the science of it in just a second and what this board actually does, but when he brings this up, do you think he has a point whatsoever in saying there's a portion of the American public, maybe a large portion, that has lost trust in what the CDC puts out because everything that we've learned post-pandemic? And again, it was a novel virus. I always like to remember viewers of that, so a lot of us were learning in real time. But does he have a point when he says There definitely are problems with trust, and we see this actually in every vaccine that's ever been since vaccines were first invented. One thing that you need to do to rebuild trust is to be consistent, to follow the facts, to say the truth. And that's not what we're getting from Secretary Kennedy.

We're getting, for example, the claim that there's extensive conflict of interest in this committee. This committee is actually the global model of effective decision-making on vaccines. Now, Secretary Kennedy may not believe that or may not agree with their decisions, but everything they do is fact-based, everything is transparent on the Internet, everything live-streamed, and of the current 17 members, one has a potential conflict of interest. That individual, a very distinguished scientist, pediatric infectious disease specialist who did research on vaccine, so she recused herself from any of those decisions. What's going to happen now, do you think, right? Is there a danger now that there's a vacancy and they're going to have to fill these spots? There's a big danger. They want to appoint people who knows who they'll appoint. We'll have to see. But the danger is that pediatricians, all doctors, all patients won't have fact-based, accurate, transparent information on what the science really shows on whether vaccines protect them. People are going to be watching this segment, right? They're going to be listening to Secretary Kennedy. They may be confused out there. What's the best advice? Is it just listen to your doctor?

Absolutely. And your doctor should listen to the group like the American Academy. of pediatricians and different groups that are medical groups that are not being appointed by a politician who has, frankly, fringe beliefs on vaccines. But, I mean, getting the advice from your doctor is the first place you should start, and then you go from there. Absolutely. And if you want a valid place for vaccine information, we're going to have to monitor what happens, because until today, most doctors would have gone to the CDC website. What happens now, do you think, with the CDC and the FDA, with these major changes happening?

What are the long-term effects, do you think? I'm really worried. I'm worried that doctors won't have valid, transparent information to refer to. I'm worried that insurers and the vaccines for children program, which provides half of all the childhood vaccines in this country, may not cover vaccines so people may have to pay for them or lose access. And I'm worried about rebuilding that very trust that Secretary Kennedy says he wants to rebuild. Talk to me about what happens in, say, a pediatric practice, right?

because you have doctors, and we've been covering this on a segment we call cost of denial now, about the insurance industry and health care in America. Doctors are slammed. They're seeing more patients than they ever have before. They're working more than they ever have before. And so a vaccine comes out. And is the onus on them to do the research, or is the shorthand to sort of look up, okay, what does the academy say?

What is the CDC say? Or should they be looking up these vaccines individually? For more than 60 years, pediatricians and almost all doctors in the U.S. have relied on a vaccine schedule. It's a very simple schedule that outlines who should get which vaccines, how many times, and when. That schedule now we may not be able to trust. That's a real concern. Why? Because we don't know who this secretary, who has a history of falsehoods about vaccines,

is going to appoint to the most important committee that recommends what should be on that? that schedule. Dr. Friedan, we've run out of time here, but we thank you for having here and explaining all that. We do appreciate it. Okay, we want to turn back now to our top story of the Trump administration's immigration raids from coast to coast. Tonight we're speaking with one teenager impacted personally by the crackdown. Marcello Gomez de Silva is 18 years old attending high school in Massachusetts. He came to this country on a visitor's visa at just seven years old, later getting a student visa. He was detained on May 31st on the weight of volleyball. The agents, it turns out, were looking for his father, but took him in

when they realized his visa had expired. His detainment triggering outrage in his community. His high school classmates, you see here, staging a walkout and his teammates on the school's volleyball team playing a match in his honor. Then after five days in detention, De Silva, granted bail by a judge and released these images capturing his emotional reunion with his family and friends.

But tonight is Battle of State in America, the place he says, is his home, is not over? Joining us tonight exclusively on Top Story is Marcello Gomez de Silva. Marcella, we thank you for joining us tonight. Do you have any idea if you're going to stay in the United States? As of right now, I think I will. I mean, it's very likely me and my lawyers have been working on this.

It's definitely a battle, but we have been taking steps on to do these other things. Has that sort of hit you yet? Has it, and I know you just got out, but has that sort of hit you that this may no longer be your home? Yeah, it's definitely something I thought about there. I was always scared to go back, scared to be deported. It's definitely something I don't want to be. But, yeah. When you were arrested on May 31st, I know you were on your way to volleyball practice.

Talk to me about what happened when those ICE agents approached you. I just pulled into my friend's driver ready to pick her up, and he automatically stopped right behind my car. He knocked on my window, and he said, get out of the car. And obviously, I was in shock. I didn't know what was going on. I got out. He asked me for my license. I gave it to him about 15 minutes after he came back and put me in handcuffs and he said, do you know why you're under arrest? I said, no, I don't.

And he said, because you're illegal, you're an immigrant. And he put me in the car. What did they explain to you after that and what was going through your head when he told you that? I was in complete shock. I didn't cry. I wasn't angry or anything. I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't understand what I did wrong. But no, they didn't. didn't explain to me what was going on. They didn't tell me what was happening. I was clueless. Were you even aware of your immigration status

and that you may not be up to speed on everything that you needed to know? No, it's not something that I really paid attention to because I'm a high school student. I didn't think it was something very important. I thought I was pretty caught up on everything because I have a school ID and things like that. I just thought that if I stayed abided by the law,

drove correctly and did right things, and I'd be just fine. ICE has said that you were not the intended target. Your father was in a statement. I want to put this up for our viewers here. The Department of Homeland Security called him a, quote, known public safety threat, writing in part on X about him. Local authorities notice ICE that this illegal alien has a habit of reckless driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour through residential areas

endangering Massachusetts residents. What do you or your family say to that? Is that true about your father? My family disagrees. I completely disagree. It is completely untrue. When they pulled me over, they never asked me about my father. They said nothing about my father. They didn't ask me about my family. They knew my name. They knew I was 18. They knew I was going to school. First of all, it's completely impossible to drive 100 miles an hour in a residential area. They could have at least thought a little bit harder to make up a lie. But my dad is the type that I tell him to drive a little faster because he drives. so slow and respectfully. He's a really good guy. I love my dad, and I completely disagree with what they said. Is your father now in hiding because of this? Yeah, my dad has to stay home for the moment, but me and my lawyers are taking steps at that. Do you feel that you are an American, if people were to ask you, are you American? What would you tell them?

an American environment, but truly I am Brazilian. I was born there. That's my blood. But yeah, I definitely grew up in an American environment, and I would say I'm half. I'm both. You're both. But you want to stay in America? Do you want to become an American citizen? Yeah. Yeah, I definitely want to become an American citizen. I want to stay in America for sure. Yeah, this is my community. I love this country. I know you're, I know you're a teenager, and I know you were probably thinking about a lot of other things besides this right now but if people were to come to you and say listen at the end of the day if they look at your paperwork right and you are undocumented you you you overstayed your visa you need to be deported what would you say to those people

um that actually was said to me um in the detention center um she didn't say i need to be deported but she said i could possibly be deported because of it and um i looked at her and i told her ma'am, I was seven years old when that happened, when my visa expired, what could I possibly have done at that moment? And she looked at me, and she herself got a little sad, and she understood, but she didn't really care. All right, Marcella De Silva, we thank you for coming on top story tonight and sharing your story. We will stay on top of it. Oh, yeah, yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. We're going to turn out of some other news this time out of Nashville, involving a rising country music star, 24-year-old Connor Smith, alleged.

hitting and killing an elderly woman with his pickup truck as she was walking in a marked intersection. Jesse Kirsch has that story for us tonight. Tonight, rising country star Connor Smith identified as the man behind the wheel of a pickup truck that allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Nashville. Police say preliminary findings indicate that Sunday evening Smith failed to yield before striking 77-year-old Dorothy Dobbins, who it appears was inside a marked crosswalk. He's also making clear Smith did not show any signs of impairment, and investigators say no charges have been filed against the 24-year-old Nashville native.

Smith rose to prominence in 2021 when his song, I Hate Alabama, went viral on TikTok. In 2024, he released his debut studio album, Smoky Mountains, and had his music featured in the soundtrack for the summer blockbuster Twisters. In response to Dobbins, death, an attorney for Smith telling NBC news in part. His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins family during this incredibly difficult time. Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. Dot is who you'd want as a neighbor. She embodies what makes Nashville so special. Jacob Coopin, a Nashville council member who knew Dobbins, remembering the impact she had on the

people around her. She worked in a number of community programs. She's someone that the world deserves to know. It's a heartbreaking situation. Dobbins neighbor, Gina Brown, telling us the crosswalk where Dobbins was struck has become increasingly busier with traffic, with progress to be made when it comes to safety. Is that an area that you're worried about when you're walking through there? 100%. All of this was avoidable. Losing someone's life should not be, okay, now's the time and better signaling, better notification, better signage can be put into place. Council member Coopin telling us there is still work to be done. We've got some great teams

working on these improvements. But, you know, of course, this was too late for Dot, and we've got to work expeditiously so no one else meets this same fate. Jesse Curris joins us tonight from Miami. So Jesse Conner Smith is scheduled to perform while this investigation is ongoing. Yeah, and he had actually just played Tom the day before this incident allegedly unfolded at CMA Fest. And according to his website, he has multiple shows coming up over the months ahead, including his most recent upcoming concert date, which is this upcoming Saturday in Fort Myers, Florida. But at this point, it's unclear if those shows will be moving forward. Tom. Jesse Kirsch for us tonight. Up next

on top story, superstar Katie Perry rushed on stage by a fan and we're learning he's a serial concert crasher. Her reaction and the concerns it's raising about concert security. Psychologists sounding the alarm on screens and kids, a new study revealing how too much scrolling may be causing emotional harm to children. That's next. Back down with Top Stories Global Watch, a check of what else is happening around the world. We start with Brazil's former president, Jaya Bolsonaro, testifying before the Supreme Court over his alleged role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election there. Bolsonaro denied having any part in orchestrating a coup to stay in office after failing to be re-elected. The far-right leader and seven of his former associates are being tried for attempting to overthrow the government.

Back in January of 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings and called for a military coup. Israel has deported activists graded at Tunberg after the Gaza-bound ship she was on was seized by Israel's military. New images showing Tunberg on a flight from Israel to France, where she will then continue back to her home in Sweden. Tunberg and other 10 pro-Palestine activists were aboard a flotilla when they were intercepted. French officials say five of their citizens refused to sign deportation orders. They will now face judicial proceedings. And a startling new research pointing to a dramatic decline in emperor penguins across parts of Antarctica. Researchers analyzing satellite images spanning more than a decade, discovering that penguin populations are diminishing faster than expected.

Scientists say shrinking sea ice brought on by climate change is a major contributor to the drop. And in Australia, Katie Perry, coming face-to-face with an unwelcome surprise at her. show in Sydney. A man jumping on stage, attempting to dance with the singer. It turns out it wasn't his first time sneaking past security. NBC Sam Brock has the videos and the story. There were definitely fireworks recently at a Katie Perry concert and not the lyrical kind. The pop star appearing shocked and uncomfortable when a man stormed the stage and popped up on her shoulder. Fans catching footage of the man sprinting down the catwalk, accosting the singer and dancing right next to her.

There's never going to be a new show like it, so just enjoy us, Cindy. Perry nodding to the oddity of the moment as she spun away and security tried to contain him. What the hell is going to say? That intruder, it turns out, has a notorious track record. Johnson Wen is a repeat stagecrasser with a TikTok account highlighting his antics. He's described in Australian media reports as a serial pest and prankster. Wens posted a spade of video showing him crashing other high profile of events.

From the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, where he stumbles on the pitch, to the Paris Olympics, the cricket World Cup final, a chain smoker's concert that was a little too close for comfort, even a tussle with the weekend on stage. The 25-year-old spoke about that incursion with Seven News Australia. I planned this like months before it even started. Every single stadium I ran on, I always had to face court and get punished for it. And he's not the only one disrupting performers. Bibi Rexa falling to the ground after being struck by what looks like an iPhone, and Harry Stiles wincing after an apparent strike from a skiddle. And after a fan threw water at Cardi B.

She threw her microphone right back. For his latest stunts, Australian police say Wend was arrested and charged with entering in closed land and obstructing a person in performance of work and duties. Perry's representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment. After the concert, however, nine news in Australia, getting an exclusive interview with WEN. How do you keep getting past security? Magic. Just kidding. I was just too quick. But after racking up tens of thousands of dollars in fines, Wen says he might have to change his ways.

I'm planning to like quit forever because you get way too much trouble for it. Sam Brock joins us now live in studio. Sam, it seems pretty shocking that someone could just jump on stage like that. I mean, how easy is this? Yeah, certainly it is shocking. So I think the reality is talking. talking to security experts, Tom, is just that if this were in one city, let's say this guy was doing it in Chicago or Justin Sidney, he'd likely be surveilled, but he is literally flying around the world crashing events. Now, speaking with a former secret service agent specifically about what they bring to the table, he says, we're on the top of our game. But for a lot of these events, they're hiring private contractors to do it. If one person sort of takes their eye off the ball, you are as strong as your weakest link. So they've got to tighten the screws on that. Facial recognition could actually be very important in terms of identifying him.

But even that at this stage of the technology can be beaten if you, for example, wear a hat down that covers up your eyes. So there's no perfect solution here. What he said was stronger penalties to disincentivize this kind of thing. That's what's important. Sam Brock for us. Sam, thank you for that. We want to turn out to a warning for parents tonight in Top Stories Health Check, a new study showing just how detrimental screen time is for children. Researchers finding that spending too much time behind a screen leads to emotional and behavioral problems, which in turn can cause kids with those problems to use screens to cope.

creating what scientists call a vicious cycle. Joining me now is Dr. Gail Saltz. She's an associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital School of Medicine. Dr. Salts, thanks so much for being here. This is something we've obviously known a lot about. It seems like every report comes out, says the screens are dangerous.

What's new about this one? They just keep reminding parents? No, actually, what's new about this one is it followed kids over time, which many other studies have not, and that tells us something about cause and effect. So this one's sort of a real nail in the coffin. What stood out to you on this one,

the research in this one? That it was a large number, that it was over time, that it is this vicious cycle, that kids will go back to it as a way to comfort themselves, that girls struggle more with the internalizing effects, the anxiety, the depression, the low self-esteem, and boys develop more of the problems with aggression and hyperactivity. How does the tablet make them hyperaggressive or more aggressive? How does that work? You know what? Boys and girls have different reactions to internal states that are distressing. are more quick to anger. Yeah. Girls are more... Pointing at me like I'm like...

I'm sorry? Not accusing you, but it's true. She just met me, no. It's true. And girls are more likely to struggle with depression. So it's sort of following that path. And also, that boys are more likely to spend time gaming than girls. And gaming is a particularly pernicious, difficult part of screen time.

What do you think needs to happen? Because, like, we've been talking about this. I think we have the research my producers gave me here for years now about screen time. I mean, what needs to be done so parents sort of get it in their heads or at least children also understand that this is super dangerous?

Look, staying away from the screen is a lot more work for parents. So, you know, parents don't really want to believe this because, frankly, it just makes their jobs harder. But I think they need to know that, in fact, the consequences will be such that they need to do these things. So they have to start early.

They have to delay that screen time as long as they possibly can. They have to keep it in public rooms. They have to put control. They have to do a lot of things. They have to focus on in real life events for their kids instead of the screen. What's the difference from when we were growing up, right?

Watching TV, some kids would veg out, watching the cartoons, and people would say, oh, the TV is going to rot your brain. I mean, what is the difference with the screen? Because screens are interactive, so they provide the positive reinforcement. You won, you got a star. This child said something which stirred you in some way.

That positive reinforcement, that's addictive. It keeps them engaged in a different way different way than passive watching. I think it's also endless content, right? We used to have reruns. Remember that? You'd have to stop watching because you saw it four times. Now they can scroll forever. A doctor's so great to have you here. We really do appreciate it. Up next, from grandma to grad, the grandmother, giving the label super senior a whole new meaning. Her college graduation, 60 years in the making, why it took so long and how she finally made her dream come true. That's next. Finally tonight, an achievement nearly six decades in the making.

year old Joan Alexander was forced to drop out of her teaching program 60 years ago. Now she's finally collecting her diploma, proving it's never too late to achieve your dreams. The year was 1959, and Joan Alexander was getting ready to graduate from the University of Maine with hopes of becoming a teacher. But then came the big news. She and her husband were expecting. At the time, pregnant women weren't allowed to participate as student teachers. All these years, I hadn't realized that I had this big hole in my life, and that's what it was, the lack of the diploma. As years went by, Jones family grew, and she began volunteering in schools, helping young preschool children learn to read. Her four daughters would eventually all graduate from college.

But over the years, Jones youngest, Tracy, said something was missing. So I felt like it was important for her to have that degree that she earned. So last year, Tracy called the University of Michigan. Maine and made her mother's case. Why did you want to do this for your mom? It always made me kind of sad to think that she had done everything that she could do and that she wasn't able to get this degree. The university looked into it and determined Joan did meet the student teaching requirement.

I think he said, Mom, you're going to be a graduate. We both cried. That day, the super senior making history. At age 88, Joan became the oldest undergrad to receive a degree from the University of Maine. After I got it, that hole filled up, and I felt like I was a finished person. Congratulations to Joan. We thank you for watching Top Story Tonight. I'm Tom Yammis in New York.

Stay right there. More news on the way.